Scientific Inquiry: Steps, Skills and Action 2003
Distributed by Human Relations Media, 41 Kensico Drive, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549; 800-431-2050
Produced by John G. Young
Director n/a
VHS, color, 23 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Biology, Education, Science, Teacher Training
Date Entered: 06/09/2004
Reviewed by Gloria Maxwell, Reference Librarian, Penn Valley Community College, Kansas City, MOThis kit comes with a video and teacher’s resource manual that provides learning objectives, program summary, key concepts, teaching strategies, student activities and fact sheets. National Science Education Content Standards are also included. The introduction offers the suggestion that a teacher can provide students with tactics and skills to use throughout their lives by modeling the steps in scientific investigation. This is a useful strategy for acquiring any type of accurate information in today’s world. In essence, teachers can equip students with skills they can use throughout their lives, not just those confined to the area of biology or science. The video and manual emphasize that the methods of scientific inquiry are essential for any students who intend to work in the sciences or medical fields, but that these are also useful skills for other aspects of life. Through teaching the techniques of scientific inquiry, students can learn to analyze and use information and become good critical thinkers. Scientific inquiry teaches how to evaluate all types of information, which enhances problem solving abilities.
The video goes through the steps of several possible student activities that teachers can employ. It shows teachers how to engage students’ interest in a topic and then work them through the steps of observation, posing a hypothesis, testing the idea, and analyzing the data. The process of formulating a good question and then refining that question are also highlighted. Teaching strategies, activity notes (examples of activities teachers can use), and review questions are provided in the manual. Several different problems are presented step-by-step, which should help students comprehend how scientific inquiry works. The examples and imagery are interesting and engaging.
The audio and video qualities are excellent. Sample exercises are modeled, which emphasize the approach teachers can take in teaching the methods of scientific inquiry.
This is an exciting teaching resource that should be viewed by every teacher who wants to impact student learning in positive and productive ways. These methods are being used in many college science classrooms. Scientific Inquiry: Steps, Skills and Action is suitable for Middle, Jr. and Sr. High school instruction, as well as college and junior college science courses. Highly recommended